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Coming through the system as youths, the weight of expectation and the demands placed upon the pair from the day they left school were huge.

But Carragher and Gerrard were able to cope. They handled the spotlight and went to the very top as they got their hands on the Champions League trophy together in 2005 in Istanbul.

Carragher is fully aware it’s intense in Glasgow in terms of football passion.

But, having seen Gerrard take similar pressures in his stride in his own city which also lives and breathes the game, he feels there is nothing which can thrown at Rangers’ new leader which will catch him out.

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He told Record Sport: “I wasn’t shocked when I heard that Steven would be a manager because it’s something that he was desperate to do.

“He went into Liverpool’s Academy, the whole point of that was to become a manager.

“I’ve got so much respect for him for taking the job on.

“People keep saying it’s a big job and it’s a brave move. I’m well aware of how big a club Rangers are. It’s a huge club with a lot of similarities to Liverpool in that there is big pressure to win every game, there are 40,000 or 50,000 people at every home game with massive expectation.

“And why not start at a huge club rather than maybe lower down the leagues in England or wherever it may be. You are going right in at the top.

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“There is big pressure of having to win every game, but that’s what he’s been used to every single day of his life at Liverpool.

“If you draw a couple of games on the bounce, you get criticism, but Steven is used to that type of pressure. It’s a brilliant move.”

Carragher, of course, realises the situation of managing will be different for Gerrard to playing.

As a player, taking care of your own performance is the No.1 priority and few did it better than the former England star.

Now, though, Gerrard is responsible for an entire group.

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Carragher, though, saw outstanding leadership traits within his pal during their playing days and also with his work in Liverpool’s Academy and believes the Rangers boss can transmit those sort of inspirational skills into his new job.

He said: “Steven will have instant respect as soon as he walks into the door of the dressing room. That’s because of how good a player that he was.

“But, of course, he is a manager now and has to show leadership in a different way.

“Let’s not forget that it’s not as if he’s had 10 years of experience, it’s something that will be new to him but it’s something he’s naturally got as a person and he was able to show as a footballer.

New Rangers manager Steven Gerrard meets the fans at Ibrox

“He’s had to show that at Liverpool with the youngsters but this is different.

“You have to show that by getting results for a huge football club, where I’m well aware it’s the same as here at Liverpool.

“Yes, it’s his first job but one of the owners or the chief executive said at the press conference when it was announced that there had been people with experience taken into the job and it hadn’t worked out, so his freshness, his new ideas, how he sees things coming from the top end of the game a few years ago can only benefit Rangers.”

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Carragher believes it’s been a shrewd move by Gerrard to appoint another old team-mate Gary McAllister as assistant.

As well as the ex-Scotland skipper, he’s taking a host of familiar faces from the Anfield set-up to Scotland with him to be surrounded by people he trusts and Carragher said: “It’s a smart move taking Gary with him. They get on well.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

“I think Gary has always wanted to play for Rangers and has been close at some stages.

“He knows the Scottish game better than Stevie and he has taken a great coaching team up there from Liverpool’s Academy.”

With the commanders in place, it’s now down to Gerrard to get the soldiers firing. His appointment has lifted the Gers punters and Carragher believes that’s given fans back one crucial element which has been missing for a sustained period.

He said: “Steven gives the belief to supporters.

“You saw that when he went into the ground when he signed. Maybe supporters would have done that no matter who went in, but it gives them hope and a belief which has maybe been lacking for a long time.”